Sections of Howard Cooke Boulevard to be Repaired

Users of the Howard Cooke Boulevard in Montego Bay, will soon see major improvement to the dual carriageway, as the Government, with funding from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), is to embark on major rehabilitative work along sections of the roadway, beginning April 10.

The National Works Agency (NWA), will be carrying out the repair works at a cost of $14 million to sections in close proximity to the St. James Police Headquarters at Montego Bay Freeport.

Making the announcement at a press conference at the St. James Parish Council chamber, on March 30, Communication and Customer Services Manager at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, informed that the project will be carried out over the next three months.

“We are going to be fixing about 160 metres of this road on both carriage ways of the road, so we’re looking at over 300 metres of road when we are through,” he noted, adding that work will be starting on a Friday and going through the Easter school midterm break, to lessen the impact on users.

Chin’s Equipment Rental and Construction company has been contracted for the project, to include excavation of the road surface, filling the area up to road level, asphalting the affected section of the roadway,  constructing curb, channel and sidewalks, as well as repairing the median.

The NWA will be implementing a traffic management system for the duration of the project, with dual carriage allowed on both sides during peak hours before 9:00 a.m. and after 3:00 p.m. and single lane from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The northern gate leading off the Catherine Hall main road into the Mega Mart complex will also be closed.

Repair work will also be undertaken on the roadway in neighbouring Catherine Hall to lessen the inconvenience being experienced by residents and students of the Howard Cooke and Catherine Hall Primary Schools, Herbert Morrison Technical High School and Montego Bay Community College.

Mr. Shaw said the NWA will be using cones and more road signs, and urged users to obey the instructions of the Police and flag persons posted along the work site.

Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, and Member of Parliament for West Central St. James, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams, welcomed the project.

She noted that activities in the Montego Bay Free Zone, Free Port and Fairfield commercial centres will be affected, and encouraged persons to cooperate during the period of the project.

For his part, Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Glendon Harris, hailed the project as timely, and called on commuters to exercise patience as the work progresses.